Some Random Thoughts on the Passing Season

While sitting in my office preparing for a trial, wishing I was at home in my recliner, watching the Dodgers and Padres game, I have some more random thoughts on the passing season:

•           I don’t know about you all, but there is something special for me to see the young prospects come through the system and do well for the Dodgers.   Saturday night was special!! What a treat to watch Buehler do his “Striker” magic.  To be mentioned in the rarified air of Pedro Martinez and Dwight Gooden as the only pitchers’ since 1908 to have more than one fifteen strikeout game with no walks in a single season, and he joined Sandy Koufax as the only other pitcher in Dodgers franchise history with multiple 15‑strikeout games in one season.   Pretty remarkable!   Hopefully, the best is yet to come for young Mr. Buehler.   

•           It was also nice to see that Buehler’s amazing outing was caught by none other than “Will the Thrill.”  Will Smith, whether he is a better long term option than Keibert Ruiz or not, has added the perfect amount of “bay-faced” enthusiasm to the team at a time they desperately needed a little spark.  If Kaybear turns out half as good as Mark predicts, our catching future looks very bright.  That doesn’t even take into consideration Cartaya, Feduccia, Wong, Berman, Rodriguez and Marco Hernandez).  Catcher is a position of depth and strength for the foreseeable future.      

•           Then we turn to the “hair boys,” Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.   They will have some up and down moments as young pitchers often do, but my oh my, what arms they have!  I’m looking forward to how they respond this week.   If they’re capable of providing 2018 Caleb Ferguson type help for the Dodgers in the playoffs, what a blessing that will be!    

•           If I was the front office or management for any of the teams that will potentially play the Dodgers in the playoffs, I would religiously study how Eric Lauer pitches to the Dodger hitters.  He absolutely owns us!   Lauer was someone I hoped the Dodgers would have drafted in 2016.   They went with Gavin Lux instead.   Despite Lauer’s success against the Dodgers, I am happy with the Lux choice. 

•           Speaking of the 2016 draft, I find it somewhat sadistically ironic that Will Smith was chosen with the pick the Dodgers received for losing Greinke to free agency.   Is there any of you that would trade Smith straight up for Greinke?  Why or why not?      

•           Well the trade deadline was certainly anti-climatic.   I will, here and now, take full responsibility for the outcome.   Every time I interrupt my work repeatedly to check MLB Trade Rumors or Twitter to see if the Dodgers have made a move, they don’t.  It’s much like the proverbial “a watched kettle never boils.”   Each time they have made a major move I have been occupied and not able to check on transactions until much later in the day.   So I apologize to you all.   Had I kept my nose to the grindstone, we would have Vazquez and Smith in our bullpen today.  I’m sure of it!   Instead, because of my malfeasance, the Dodgers added Casey Sadler, Kristopher Negron, Tyler White, Jedd Gyorko and Adam Kolarek.   I have gone back through many of the pre-trade deadline posts on this blog and not once did I see where anyone predicted or speculated that we would acquire any of these players.     

•           Not sure how much the new acquisitions will help for the remainder of the year, nor do I know if they will even make the post-season roster, but they provide nice depth while the players on the IL recuperate.  I like what I have seen from Sadler so far, but I don’t view him as a shut down reliever.  Gyorko (pronounced “JUR-koh”) might provide a nice bench bat to hit lefties.  For the others, the jury is still out.    

•           Last year I attended a Dodger vs Mariner game with my Washington family in Seattle.   Pantone 294 was in attendance also.   They are some of the most fervent and enthusiastic fans I have ever been around, all the while remaining polite and respectful of the other teams fans.   I honestly felt as if I was a Dodger home game.  They are great ambassadors and represent Dodger fans well across the nation in various opponents’ ball parks. 

•           I’ve mentioned it on here before, but Ross Stripling has a podcast called the “The Big Swing.”  It’s worth a listen.   Ross and his frien Cooper Surles, spend some time talking about topics other than baseball (Games of Thrones for example.  I might be one of the 3 people in the nation, that has never watched an episode), but the baseball talk is exceptional.   They have interviewed Buehler, Bellinger, Michael Wacha, Kike(and his wife -this one, as you might expect is a bit juvenile), Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer, Joe Davis, Jameson Taillon, Rich Hill and Tim Kurkjian among others.  There is some talk about the use of analytics and you get glimpses of how the Dodgers prepare their players that you might not get anywhere else.   

•           It may be from just my vantage point sitting on my recliner, but it appears to me that home plate umpires are becoming progressively worse at calling balls and strikes.   I have mixed feelings about any type of robotic umpiring, but I’m leaning in that direction a bit more than my traditional mindset normally would allow.   Umpires have a strong union though, so I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon.  

•           I’m not in favor of having a runner start on 2^nd base in extra innings.  Certainly it shortens the game time, but on the other hand, you remove classics like the 18 inning Dodger World Series victory against the Redsox.  I would take that type of long game any day of the week, regardless of how tired I am at work the following day.  

•           I would love to see Cody Bellinger warm-up again and make a serious run at the triple crown.  What added excitement that would bring. 

•           I consider myself fortunate to have been able to see both Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw pitch.   They are absolutely two of the greatest ever!!    While I think that Koufax at his absolute best was slightly better than Kershaw at his absolute best, it isn’t by very much.  Moreover, I would never cluck my tongue at anyone who thought otherwise. 

•           I’m glad the Dodgers did not sign Bryce Harper.   His 1.7 WAR looks mighty meager for $10,000.000.00 to $26,000,000.00 per year, 13 year commitment.   Especially when you compare it to Alex Verdugo’s 3.4 WAR.   Cherry-picking the stats. I know, but Verdugo is simply having a better year.  Additionally, I don’t know if Harper’s personality would fit well with this Dodger team.      

•           I don’t miss Yasiel Puig.   He was fun to watch for a little while.  But as time went on, his antics became very tiresome.   It doesn’t bother me to the least that no Dodger hitter has kissed RVS or BB after they have hit a home run.   It was time for Puig to move on.  I wish him well in Cleveland, but I’ll take our current right-fielder over him every day of the week.

•           If the teams presently expected to make the playoffs do, we are in for one of the more exciting playoffs ever.   The Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals, Phillies or Brewers, are all tough teams (I have purposely left off the Giants, because, quite frankly, I don’t like them!)  In the American League, the same is true for the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Indians, Rays and A’s (I’m hoping the RedSox doesn’t make the cut, just so I can hear ESPN cry all the way out here in California.  How good that will feel).  Each of these teams has a very good blend of pitching and hitting, and none of them are pushovers.  

•           I will be very excited to see Gavin Lux get some time in the majors this year.  He is going to be something very special.  I think he will be better than Bo Bichette (sorry AC, but I think we selected the right guy!)  

•           I am also excited to watch the development of Josiah Gray.   He has been exceptional this year.   Today, as I type this, he will be going up against the Kansas City Royals #2 prospect, Brady Singer.   At one point Singer was one of the top pitching prospects in the draft   Singer was selected in the 2^nd round in 2015, but did not sign.   In 2018, he was selected by the Royals with the 18^th pick in the 1^st round.  Statistically, Gray is having a much better year than Singer.  

•           Joe Davis is really growing into his broadcast position.  I didn’t fully realize how good he was until I spent an hour in my car this week listening to Steiner and listening to Tim Neverett this weekend as he took over for Davis on the TV broadcast.   Steiner and Neverett aren’t bad per se, but Davis is so much better.  He has a tremendous feel for capturing the moment.   Also, why the Dodgers use anyone other than Alanna Rizzo for the on-field interviews is beyond me.   To me, David Vassegh is almost unlistenable.  They also use a third person occasionally, whose name I don’t recall, and he is absolutely unbearable.   He thinks his interviews are more compelling if he screams.    

•           I’m going out on a limb today and predict that the Dodgers are going to go to the playoffs.  The Dodgers have 49 games left.   If they go 24 – 25 the rest of the way, they would end the season 97 – 65.  The Giants have 51 games left.  In order to tie the Dodgers, they would have to go 41-10 for the remainder of the season.  That’s not impossible, but frankly, I don’t think Scooter Gennett makes that much of a difference to allow them to do that. 

•           I hate it when the Dodgers lose to the Giants or Padres!!  That just shouldn’t be allowed!! 

2Demeter2’s Minor League Lowdown

OKC Dodgers beat the Las Vegas Aviators:   7-6

The Dodgers jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after 4 and held on for the victory as Caleb Ferguson gave up 2 runs in the 8^th and Kevin Quackenbush surrendered 2 in the 9^th.   Logan Bawcom started and pitched 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks with 5Ks.  Josh Sborz rescued him in the 4^th by striking out the only batter he faced. Chris Nunn followed with a scoreless, but eventful inning allowing two hits and a walk.  

Austin Barnes led the offense going 2-4 with a HR and 2B and 3 RBI.  Zack Reks also went 2-4.  DJ Peters added a @B and RBI.

Tulsa Drillers beat the NW Arkansas Naturals: 3-1

Jo Jo Gray won his battle with Brady Singer tossing a masterful 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, 1BB, while striking out 7.   Luis Vasquez followed with 2 scoreless innings, walking 1 and getting 1 K.  Nolan long pitched the last inning allowing no runs. The offense consisted of a Christian Santana solo HR, and a 2 run HR from Errol Robinson, driving in Conner Wong who had singled.   

RC Quakes lost to the Visalia Rawhide:   8-7

How many of you remember the old Rawhide television program with Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood?   Andre Jackson started and had a rare rough outing   He tossed 4 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4BB 4 runs (3ER).  He did get 5 Ks.   Sven Schueller followed with a scoreless inning.  Austin Drury pitched 1.1 innings with 2 runs, 2 hits 1 BB and 1 K.  Darien Nunez followed with 0.2 innings allowing 2 inherited runners to score and giving up 2 runs of his own.   He was followed on the hill by Conner Strain who tossed a scoreless inning.  

Offensively, the Quakeswere led by Jeter Downs who went 2-4 which included a HR.   Tre Todd added a HR as did Jeren Kendall.  Miguel Vargas went 3-5 on his day with a 2B.     

Great Lake Loons lost to the South Bend Cubs:   8-6 

The Loons started off strong in this game scoring 3 runs in both the 1^st and 2^nd innings.  Albeit, that 2 runs scored on walks, and one on a Chris Roller sac fly.   Kody Hoese drove in a run with a single and Jacob Amaya doubled in a run.   Leonel Valera drove in the a run with a triple.   James Outman went 3-5 with a run scored and Valera went 2-4.  Ryan Pepiot started and pitched two innings and allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 2BB.  He struck out 1.   He was followed by Zach Willeman and well let’s just say for him “It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” He allowed 6 runs on 6 hits and 3BB.  One of the runs did score on an error by Outman.   Jasiel Alvino followed for 2 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit.  Justin Hagenman pitched the final 2 innings not allowing a hit or run and striking out 1 Cub. .  

Ogden Raptors beat the Rocky Mountain Vibes:   5-1

With the sounds of John Denver playing in the background, the Raptors took care of the Vibes scoring 5 runs on 9 hits and 4BB.  Andrew Shaps led the way with 3 hits and 1 RBI.  Zac Ching added a double and Andy Pages had a triple and 1 RBI.   Jimmy Titus also had a hit and RBI.  Titus is quietly having a very good 1st professional season hitting .343, with a 1.020 OPS.  Jeronimo Castro started for the Raptors and threw 6 strong innings, not allowing a run.  He surrendered 2 hits, but no BB and he did not strike out anyone.   He was followed by Mitchell Tryanski for 1.2 innings of no run, 1 hit ball.  He had 3Ks.  He is yet to give up a run since being promoted to the Raptors.  Then came Mark Mixon for 0.1 inning.  He allowed a hit and nothing else.  Nate Robertson pitched the 9^th inning and allowed a run on 2 hits.   

AZL Mota beat the AZL Oakland Green:   3-1

The Mota made the most of their 2 hits, scoring 3 runs in the 2^nd inning Alfonso Guillen had a hit and an RBI.   Alex DeJesus had the other hit. That was pretty much it for the offense. The pitching was the story of the day, as Louis Head, started and tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless ball as he continued his rehab assignment.   Jeison Cabrera followed with 3.1 innings allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits, 3 BB and registering 6K.   Huel Shen Lin finished up with 4 clean innings with 5K.  

AZL Lasorda beat the AZL Angels: 3-1

Jorbit Vivas went 2-4 with a Rbi in the 1st inning.   Eddys Leonard’s single in the 19th drove in the final two runs.  Not much else offensively.   18-year-old Kraiky Berroa started and pitched a strong 4.2 innings allowing 4 hits, an unearned run, 2BB with 6K.   He was followed by Adolfo Ramirez, who tossed 5 scoreless innings, allowing but 3 hits with 7 K.  Yujo Kitagata got the final out in the 10^th on a strikeout, preserving the victory..